Pope Leo XIV utilized his inaugural Palm Mass on March 29 to share a forceful message opposing war that reverberated throughout social media platforms and diplomatic circles, proclaiming that God rejects violent actions and will not listen to prayers from those engaged in warfare.
Thousands assembled in St. Peter’s Square as the first pontiff born in America led the sacred ceremony commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. The pontiff, 70, wore red vestments representing Christ’s Passion and devoted his homily to condemning the weaponization of faith to legitimize armed conflicts.
“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Pope Leo XIV said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
The pontiff’s statements arrived as the conflict between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran reached its second month, while Russia’s offensive in Ukraine persists. Officials from every side of these confrontations have cited religious rationales for their military operations, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has described the Iran confrontation using overtly Christian language.
Since delivering that homily, Pope Leo XIV has escalated his anti-war stance significantly. During an 11-day apostolic tour of Africa, his first apostolic tour as pope, he called President Donald Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable.” Vice President JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, responded by telling the pope to “be careful” when speaking about theology. Leo fired back that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue his calls for peace.
In Bamenda, Cameroon, a city scarred by a decade-long separatist insurgency, Leo declared: “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain.”
The liturgy commenced with cardinals, bishops, priests, and lay participants processing through the square while carrying olive branches and elaborately woven palm leaves. Approximately 60 cardinals and bishops took part as the procession moved around the ancient Egyptian obelisk that Emperor Caligula transported to Rome in A.D. 37, a location historically linked to early Christian martyrdom, including St. Peter’s.
Pope Leo XIV offered particular prayers for Middle Eastern Christians who are “suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict” and frequently cannot properly observe Holy Week traditions. His statements took on greater significance following Jerusalem police barring Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm March 29 Mass, marking the first instance in centuries that religious leaders encountered such limitations at the location where Christians believe Jesus was crucified.
Israeli police shuttered the principal holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, citing security concerns during Iranian missile attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently had the Church of the Holy Sepulchre partially reopened, responding to international condemnation.
The liturgy carried special significance as the inaugural Palm Sunday following Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday in 2025. Francis had recovered from a five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia to acknowledge the faithful from St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, completing what would be his last popemobile journey around the piazza. He experienced a stroke and passed away the next morning. His nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, subsequently disclosed that Francis had expressed to him: “Thank you for bringing me back to the square.”
Pope Leo XIV led the full sequence of Holy Week liturgical services, including the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, the Easter Vigil on Saturday, and the Easter Mass on April 5 in St. Peter’s Square. The pope moved the Holy Thursday ceremony back to the basilica after Francis notably observed it by visiting Rome-area prisons and refugee centers to wash the feet of Muslims and people of other faiths.
The pontiff ended his homily by referencing Venerable Bishop Tonino Bello, a pacifist and social justice champion whom Pope Francis acknowledged as venerable in 2021. The bishop, who passed away in 1993, had prayed for a moment when “the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up like frost beneath the spring sun.”
Russia’s Orthodox Church has characterized its invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against what it considers a morally fallen West. At the same time, President Donald Trump’s administration has described military action in religious terms, as reflected in statements by Defense Secretary Hegseth and other officials.
Palm Sunday signifies the start of Holy Week, honoring Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. The liturgy features readings of Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, establishing the atmosphere for Christianity’s most holy week.
As the first U.S.-born pontiff in history conducted his first Holy Week as pope, his powerful position against religious rationalizations for warfare indicated a continuation of recent papal focus on peace while creating his own unique voice on the international stage. His message resonated significantly on social media, where segments of his homily sparked debates about faith, warfare and political leadership.